New cat pastel started

After spending most of the day sorting out website problems, I have finally managed to take a photo of the latest cat commission's pencil outline. It is a rather unusual pose and I'm looking forward to working on this one. 'Huepo', a German cat that ran away from home a few years ago and has not been seen since, will be drawn in pastels.

Cat portrait continued

I'm wondering if anyone else ever experiences problems with (google) blogger or whether it's just me? Every now and then it just won't upload my photos. I find that extremely annoying to say the least! Feel free to leave a comment if you know how to solve that problem. ;o)

Anyhow, here's a new scan of the black cat portrait - just click on the link if you'd like to check it out!

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m124/Finepetportraits/1anniewip2a.jpg

Siamese cat pastel portrait

I am still working on the black cat but have also spent some time on the full body pastel of a Siamese cat called 'Ming'. Unfortunately the reference photo does not show as much detail as I would like plus the cat is actually being held so two human hands cover a lot of the body. So this is a tricky one...

New Forest trip and cat pastel portrait

My latest commission is of a black cat - I got some work done today and am very pleased with the portrait so far.
Yesterday, however I didn't draw at all - we went to the New Forest to see the ponies! I had been before and just love watching them in their natural habitat. I even got to stroke a few nosey mares and foals that came up to me to say hello! I took tons of photos that I might use as reference photos in the future. Loved the foals in particular...this little fella was fast asleep and not at all phased by me and my camera! Maybe I'll do a watercolour of him...isn't he just SO cute? :o)

Cat pastel finished

The pastel portrait of 'Felix' the cat is now finished. The client asked for a blue/green blackground because Felix' blanket was blue and green. I am very happy with the portrait and hope it does the cat justice. On to the next cat portrait then! ;o)

Cat portrait progress

We went to Marwell Zoo near Winchester yesterday and I took about 250 photos that I might use as future reference photos. I love the meerkats in particular and am planning a series of meerkat sketches. Another thing on my 'to do list' which is getting longer and longer all the time... LOL

Commissions come first though! So today I've made some progress on the portrait of Felix the cat. Here's a scan:

New cat portrait in pastels

This is the pencil outline of a new cat portrait. 'Felix' will be drawn in pastels. Sadly, he was run over by a car and killed at only 2 years old. His owner has also commissioned another portrait - a pastel of a cat that ran away a while ago and has not been seen since. So these will be very special portraits...

Horse portrait and dog pastel finished

I just finished two portraits - the one of the Oldenburg mare and her owner and also the one of the poodle called Rosie. The reference photo was rather poor so I'm fairly happy how it turned out. Also started a portrait of a Siamese cat (scan to follow). Busy busy busy! ;o)

Update on poodle portrait

I have made some progress on Rosie's portrait. Here's an update:

Equine watercolour head portrait

Here's another equine watercolour. I have to say watercolours are fun! I like the more painterly effect and enjoyed painting this beautiful chap. The title is 'Waiting' as the pony was just waiting to be taken onto the pitch. Size is A4. I think there'll be loads of watercolours to follow... ;o)

Later today I'll try and finish the pastel of the young woman and her horse and work some more on the poodle. Plus I've got several cat commissions lined up. Phew! ;o)

Young woman and her horse

I've been working hard on my latest commissions, the poodle and an A3 sized pastel portrait of a young woman and her Oldenburg mare. I like this composition very much...it shows love and trust between the horse and her owner. I don't usually draw humans in pastels (most clients prefer charcoal or graphite) so I am happy with how it looks so far.

If I work hard enough on my commissions today I might allow myself to start another watercolour painting tonight.... ;o) Can't wait!

Border Colle pastel portrait finished

I have finally managed to take a photo of Benji's pastel portrait so here it is:

First equine watercolour painting finished

It's done! I am very pleased with how my very first watercolour has turned out and I am sure there'll be many more to come! I enjoyed painting it and can't wait to start another. However, there are three pastel commissions and a donation that I'll work on first.

Kitten to Cat - Help Betsy Campaign

About a week ago, I had an e-mail from Simon Hade of 'Kitten to Cat' - London’s only cat only veterinary clinic. Kitten to Cat have launched an internet campaign to reunite a lost cat with her famliy and cat lovers all over the world are now following her story. 'Betsy's' owners failed to keep their microchip information up to date otherwise it would not be a problem to find them now.

This is Betsy - if you are from the Richmond area and think you know this cat, please contact Kitten to Cat (phone 02089400014), e-mail helpbetsy@kittentocat.com - or you can just drop me a line and I'll forward your message.

I am going to support Kitten to Cat's campaign by creating a portrait of Betsy so watch this space! I shall be posting several 'work in progress' scans for you.

I'll keep you posted on Betsy's story as well. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this grand old lady could be reunited with her family?

First ever watercolour painting!

Now I am really excited about this! I am working on my first ever watercolour painting.

All my life - from the day I was able to hold a pencil - I have loved drawing. Yet I hardly ever liked art lessons at school as we would never actually draw but always work with watercolours...and I just couldn't do it - or thought I couldn't. My teacher didn't see my talent - just told me off for being messy with the paint and water and that kind of put me off 'painting' for about 20 years. However - knowing a lot of other pet portrait artists who create wonderful paintings with watercolours has inspired me and I am determined to face and conquer the negative feelings I have for painting. In fact, I have already made a start: I chose the photo of a polo pony that I took the other week. And guess what: I am enjoying it loads! I mean I don't really know what I'm doing but when I first started using pastels, I didn't either. I am looking forward to doing some more work on it today although I should really be working on the poodle and a pastel portrait of a girl and her horse. By the way, I have finished the portrait of Benji the Collie, just need to take a decent photo later. So maybe I can have some more 'me time' and get my watercolours out again...yay! And maybe at some point I'll be able to offer this medium to my clients as well. :o) Here's a scan of what I've done so far - not too bad, is it? ;o)

Portuguese poodle in pastels

This is Rosie - a Portuguese poodle. She used to be a stray but was rescued by an English couple. Now she is a much loved pet and still lives in Portugal with her English owners. Rosie is being drawn in pastels on A4 sized paper.

Dog portrait update

Here's an update on the dog portrait:

I am also about to start a full body study of a Portuguese poodle - I'll tell you more about that in my next blog post.